Preview: Santos vs. Cuiaba - prediction, team news, lineups

Cuiaba will face Santos in their final match of the Campeonato Brasileiro season with the visitors needing a point to guarantee safety.

The hosts are in 15th position and are guaranteed a Copa Sudamericana place, but a victory could result in qualification for next season's Copa Libertadores if results elsewhere go their way.

Match preview

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Santos could yet finish in the top eight, although they will need several teams to trip up on the final matchday of the Campeonato Brasileiro season.

If other sides falter then Santos will need to secure victory to qualify for the Copa Libertadores, and their recent form suggests a positive result is likely.

Thursday's hosts have ended the season with a superb run of results after losing just once in their previous seven games - winning four matches in that period.

Their last victory came away against Flamengo in midweek, with a goal from Marcos Leonardo proving enough to secure all three points.

Having won four of their last five home matches, Santos will be confident that they can end the season with a victory.

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Cuiaba are set for a tense final matchday as they head into Thursday's encounter three points clear of the relegation zone.

A point against Santos would ensure that they remain in the top flight, but a defeat would leave them hoping that Juventude and Bahia fail to win their respective fixtures.

Jorginho's side claimed an important victory in midweek, with Elton scoring from the spot to edge out Fortaleza.

That crucial win ended a three-game winless run, but their recent away form will be a cause for concern ahead of Thursday's fixture.

That is because Cuiaba are winless in their last eight away fixtures, while they have also lost four of their previous five away games.

Team News

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Felipe Jonatan and Diego Tardelli are both out for the hosts with groin and thigh injuries respectively.

Santos are also expected to be without Jobson, John and Kevin Malthus as the trio struggle with injury issues.

Leonardo has impressed of late, scoring four goals in his last three games, and the 18-year-old will aim to continue his fine goalscoring run on Thursday.

Cuiaba welcomed Auremir back from injury in their last outing after making a substitute appearance in the second half against Fortaleza and he is expected to be on the bench once again.

After their narrow victory in midweek, Jorginho could name an unchanged lineup for the Santos encounter.

Santos possible starting lineup:
Paulo; Melo, Danilo, Felipe; Madson, Zanocelo, Camacho, Braga; Marinho, Guilherme, Leonardo

Cuiaba possible starting lineup:
Walter; Ramon, Paulao, Empereur, Uendel; Cafu, Camilo, Pepe, Marques; Alves, Elton

We say: Santos 1-1 Cuiaba

Santos will be in a confident mood after a three-match unbeaten run, but Cuiaba have proved to be a tough nut to crack having drawn 10 games away from home this season, and we think that they will claim another point on Thursday to keep them in the top flight.

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